Ties (Book 1)

6. I Don't Need To

Bzz-Bzz-Bzz "Who is calling so early?" I mumbled angrily at whoever decided to call. "Hello?" I answered sharply.

"Mackenzie! Where are you?"

"Who are you? And it's still really early, it's only... Oh crap!" I jumped as I realized how late it was. "I'll see you at school, Lin," I hung up, rushing to get changed.

I brushed my hair and pulled it up into a ponytail. I pulled on some boot cut jeans and a loose fitting, lavender V-neck. After I slipped my feet into white sandals with a strap around the ankle and brushed my teeth, I dashed out the front door in five minutes.

I was able to drive faster than usual since the hours for the school zone were no longer effective. I parked, then sped walked to the door, not paying attention to the path I was taking. I was trying to zip up my backpack when I slammed against someone's chest. I was walking so fast I stumbled back, almost landing on my butt. Luckily, the person with a deliciously intoxicating aroma caught me before I hit the ground.

"How is it that you're a cheerleader?" Mr. Cute Eyes asked as he lent me a hand to stabilize myself.

"I'm running late, and I wasn't paying attention and..." I was out of breath with so much talking and speed walking.

He laughed. "I know you're running late, Captain Obvious," he said laughing even harder.

"Ha-ha very funny. Why are you not in class?"

He put his hands in the front pocket of his jeans and shrugged his shoulders simultaneously. "I don't feel like being at school, so I am going to go get lunch or something," he informed me. He looked so cool in his dark wash jeans and white button up with casually rolled up sleeves; a sight for sore eyes. I mean... Shut up, brain.

"But it's only second period," I brought up, when suddenly the bell rang.

"And now it's third. Are you trying to prove you're a bad girl by skipping two periods?" He smirked.

"Er... I'm leaving now. Have a good day and try not to get caught," I started to walk the opposite direction.

"Hey, Mackenzie?"

"Yeah?" I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

"I would have a good day if you came with me," he told me in all seriousness.

Yes I'm sure my V-neck shirt is very alluring; that's why you invite me.

"Very funny, but I can see a bluff almost instantly. Goodbye, pretty boy."

I walked quickly to my locker and threw my backpack inside, slammed the door, and ran to third period. I barely made it in time before the bell caught me outside the door. English was its usual I'm-boring-and-now-we're-going-to-write-a-poem-and-find-a-secret-meaning-that-isn't-actually-there type of deal.

After English, I slowly walked inside my history class and sat down. I put my head down on the desk as I waited for the classroom to be filled with students.

"Rough night, angel?"

I lifted my head to see who was speaking. I immediately sat up straight. "Hey, Darius." I managed a smile.

"I take it you didn't sleep well?"

"Definitely not. I probably managed three hours of sleep."

"Why is that?"

"You know the usual: arguing with parents, then you can't fall asleep because you keep repeating the conversation in your head a thousand times because you try to figure out if you said everything that needed to be said. Blah, blah, blah, the usual you know?"

He chuckled and gave me a lopsided grin. "Yeah I get it. But it'll be all right, you'll see."

Damned attractive boys. They make me blabber stupidities.

*****

The day dragged by like a zombie trying to get somewhere with a broken leg. Poor zombie, he was probably going to be dead again before he got to his final destination.

In art class we were allowed to do whatever we wanted. I only had Kaitlin in that class, but she was on her phone the whole time, so I found something to do. I started doodling random things on my white paper. By the time I realized what I was doing, I had drawn the garden outside the Ellison mansion with what looked like the beginnings of Levi's body standing by the garden. Shocked that I drew him without even thinking, I put the paper up and laid my face in my hands. I knew I had been drawing a male, but the conscious part of my brain ignored to the very last minute who it was.

The day kept going and eventually ended.

After practice, I decided to stop by Jack in the Box and get a shake, since there was no junk food in my house. I got my ice cream shake then passed by Hobby Lobby to get some materials to make a goody basket for my assigned football player. The following Thursday we would put all of the football players' names in a bucket and see who each cheerleader would be supporting in the upcoming football season. Whoever we got, we would have to give him a little gift before every game. Talk about a waste of resources. They probably would not care about the gesture.

I forgot to grab a basket at the entrance, so I just carried the materials in my arms. I was about to turn on an aisle when I walked right into someone's chest. Causing me to drop all of my things. Immediately, I bent down to pick up my items. Twice in a day! Talk about issues.

"You need to start watching where you walk," a male's voice snapped me from my flustered state.

I set my eyes forward to see Darius, the kid from my history class, was helping me collect the objects I had dropped. "I don't plan to run into people on purpose, you know?"

"Well I do." He laughed and gave me a smirk that could make any girl drool. "Did you find everything you needed," he asked as he got to his feet.

"Yes, I'm done."

"I'll help you take this to the cashier," he asserted as he started walking with my things towards the front of the store. I followed suit as I observed his broad back and messy dark brown hair. We arrived to the front, and he set my things beside the cashier. He turned to face me and looked me in the eyes.

"Well you're all set, angel." His incredibly light brown eyes were scorching into mine.

"Thanks for your help. Why are you here if you don't mind me asking?"

With another smile, he answered. "My mom is big into DIY and artsy stuff like that, so I'm here because of her."

"How sweet of you." I chuckled.

"Don't make fun of me now." With an embarrassed expression, he shoved his hands in his pockets and said, "okay, I'm going to go look for the things."

"I'll catch you at school tomorrow." I smiled appreciatively.

"You sure will." He winked and went to the back of the store.

Angel?

*****

"Mom? Dad? Hello, anybody home?"

No answer, just continuous silence, except for the refrigerator's soft hum. I put my foot on the first step to go upstairs when the doorbell rang. Since there was no one at home, I had to open it. Maybe I should have closed the front gates. I'll probably be abducted one day for not being careful.

"How may I hel—what are you doing here?"

"Do you want to go out?"

I gaped at the person standing at my door. "How do you know where I live?"

"The day of the charity, your parents spoke with my dad about working together to enter an exclusive collection at the art museum. They exchanged information, thus my excuse to have your address. I'm not a stalker, promise." Levi laughed as he rested an arm above my head on the doorjamb.

"Since you claim not to be a stalker, and I don't need to ask anyone for permission, we may leave now," I informed him as I dwelled on the fact that I would rather go out than sulk in my everyday loneliness and lack of parenting.

________

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